BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged the financial hub of Shanghai to continue its leading role in spearheading the country's ongoing reform and opening-up drive.

Xi made the remarks while taking part in a panel discussion with delegation from Shanghai during the annual session of the National People's Congress.

He asked officials to make bold moves in the Shanghai free trade zone, launched last year as a test bed for deepening market-oriented reforms, to explore replicable systems.